Project Gotham Racing 2 announced

At its X02 event in New York today, Microsoft announced sequels to two of the Xbox console's most successful launch titles. Fans of first-person shooters can't fail to get excited about the prospect of Halo 2 arriving in time for the 2003 holiday season, while players who are more comfortable behind a steering wheel than a rifle can now look forward to Project Gotham Racing 2 arriving early in 2004.

Project Gotham Racing 2, like the original game, will reward players with "kudos points" based on how skillfully they drive, as well as for actually winning races. This gameplay formula has already proved popular in the original Project Gotham Racing for the Xbox and in Metropolis Street Racer for the Dreamcast before it. The team at Bizarre Creations has no intention of resting on its laurels, though, and it has promised that the sequel will offer many more ways to earn kudos points while at the same time incorporating a system for ranking players that doesn't rely on kudos alone.

The game will also feature a whole host of new licensed vehicles, including various models from Porsche and Ferrari, including the recently announced Ferrari Enzo supercar, which has a top speed of approximately 220 miles per hour. The game will also add new cities to the existing lineup of London, Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco through the inclusion of both Hong Kong and Edinburgh. Perhaps more exciting still was the announcement that Project Gotham Racing 2 will be Xbox Live-compatible, allowing players to compete online.

"There's only one thing better than announcing a sequel to a million-seller," said Ed Fries, vice president of Xbox game content at Microsoft Game Studios. "And that's announcing sequels to two 1-million-unit-selling games. Our Halo and Project Gotham Racing franchises have redefined the shooter and racing categories around the world with innovation, great gameplay, and pure fun. Halo 2 and Project Gotham Racing 2 will build on these legacies with awesome new features and the thrill of playing anyone anywhere using Xbox Live."

We will bring you more information on Project Gotham Racing 2 as soon as it becomes available.